In a stunning turn of events, US President Donald Trump has issued a full pardon for Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, the founder of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao had pleaded guilty in late 2023 to a single count of failing to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering program and subsequently stepped down as CEO. Binance paid a record $4.3 billion settlement to US authorities, and Zhao served four months in prison as part of the plea agreement.

Despite these legal and regulatory challenges, Binance has maintained its dominance in the crypto market. As of mid-2025, the exchange continues to command approximately 40% of global spot trading volume, underscoring its resilience and strong global user base. However, the journey has been turbulent. Since 2023, Binance has faced

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